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I've used my time with Stiq Figures to ask you about your favorite specific elements, moments and quirks from video games, and reading your responses has become to feel like a weekly check-in with a bunch of gaming-oriented friends. With this being the final edition of Stiq Figures however, it's time to focus on the obvious question: What's your all-time favorite video game?

I'd love to hear your reasoning, but don't worry about justifying your selection to any of us - this is all about the game you love or enjoy the most, even if it's an unconventional choice. For one last time, lure me (and hopefully others) to games I normally wouldn't try by using Stiq Figures as a platform to broadcast passion for your favorite games.

Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts with us for all these months, and before you do it again, be sure to check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 02 Feb 2015 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/stiq-figures-january-5-11-gaming-memorabilia-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/stiq-figures-january-5-11-gaming-memorabilia-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/stiq-figures-january-5-11-gaming-memorabilia-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Joystiq writes about gaming-themed figurines, apparel and trinket-stuffed special editions fairly often, but there are scores of referential collectibles out there that never reach our front page. It can feel pretty impossible to scoop up (or find room for) everything that piques your interest, but every once in a while something comes along that's just too difficult to pass up.

For me, it was the Christopher Lee's series of Mario prints, which rolls up memories from the NES' Super Mario Bros. trilogy, Super Mario World and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. I've had the tendency to go overboard with gaming decorations in the past, but Lee's series struck me as a clever, subdued way to celebrate my ideal source material. I particularly appreciate that "subdued" bit whenever I have guests over that are dismissive of games - I don't feel the urge to cover these prints up the way I did with my more obnoxious past tributes in order to spare myself from snide comments.

Can tributes to gaming be found somewhere within your living space? Perhaps a miniature Mega Man stands guard beneath your monitor, or a replica of your favorite weapon hangs by your game collection? Tell us about the real-world souvenirs you've gathered from your gaming adventures, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales data after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 19 Jan 2015 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/stiq-figures-december-22-28-real-life-video-game-replicas-ed/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/stiq-figures-december-22-28-real-life-video-game-replicas-ed/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/stiq-figures-december-22-28-real-life-video-game-replicas-ed/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Yes, I'm still stuck on the real-life Pac-Man maze that Budweiser built for a Super Bowl commercial. Running through replicas of gaming stages and scenarios was really more of a backburner-tier childhood dream, but now that my imagination's willing to daydream about more than training Pokemon, it's pretty fun to think about the gaming experiences I'd recreate if I had a pile of money to burn.

Out of all the possibilities, I think I'd throw my millions at an on-rails Star Fox theme park cart ride. There would be four Arwings to emulate the Star Fox Team, each following its own rail, and most of the ride would be heavily inspired by Star Fox 64. Each group could compete for the high score while assisting each other with bogeys, gathering powerups and generally making Andross' life miserable. I feel like friendly fire would also be an incorporated danger, but only for whoever uses Slippy's ship.

What about you? Would you fund an incredibly-dangerous venture into building F-Zero-style race tracks and vehicles? Maybe you'd rather clear a castle of monsters and turkey legs with just a whip and holy water? What about a to-scale paintball field that channels Halo's Bloodgulch map? Tell us what kind of gaming experiences you'd build if money and most logistics weren't obstacles, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales data after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 12 Jan 2015 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/stiq-figures-december-15-21-2015-resolutions-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/stiq-figures-december-15-21-2015-resolutions-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/stiq-figures-december-15-21-2015-resolutions-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Now that we can count the remaining days of 2014 on one hand, you might hear an awful lot about New Year's resolutions over the coming days. Whether it's a completely new goal or something you committed to last year, changing up comfortable habits can be fun!

Fun or, in the case of my confessed achievement addiction in 2013, exceedingly necessary. I used to spend hours trying to clear achievement lists in their entirety, and unlike some of collectors who enjoy the hunt, I generally despised the effort. Thankfully, I've finally stopped caring - I don't even think to look at a game's remaining achievements before moving onto a new title, and the spared time has conveniently supported my second resolution from last year: To try more games I usually wouldn't go for.

This year, I intend to dig into the deeper cuts of the gaming series that I love. That means more handheld Castlevania and Zelda games, an introduction to the Mega Man X sub-series and plenty of oddball spinoffs like Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. I'll also double down on my existing efforts to try out unfamiliar territory like The Witcher series and unique smaller games, too.

Which gaming resolutions will you commit to for 2015? Share your goals with us, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 29 Dec 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/stiq-figures-december-8-14-biggest-surprise-in-2014-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/stiq-figures-december-8-14-biggest-surprise-in-2014-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/stiq-figures-december-8-14-biggest-surprise-in-2014-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

A lot can happen in a year. Social media behemoths can snatch up rising tech companies, unlikely returns can happen simply because a CEO says so, and new, strong genrefrontrunners can seemingly come out of nowhere. Sometimes the surprises we don't have the chance to hype ourselves for are the best parts of a year, and this week's Stiq Figures is all about celebrating 2014's personal out-of-left-field moments.

Personally, my biggest surprise was when Nintendo addressed my complaints at E3 by revealing Splatoon and Code Name: STEAM, two new, prominent franchises with fresh characters that wouldn't be stuck solely testing the waters of the eShop. As much as I enjoy Nintendo's existing roster, I've harbored a lingering hope in recent years that the developer would make a substantial effort with a blank slate. With two retail-sized debuts on the way within the first two quarters of 2015, I'm glad to have some fresh faces to look forward to in addition to a fewreunions.

What caught you off guard this year? Was there a particular announcement that you weren't expecting, or was it a game you played that you didn't expect to love as much as you did? Let us know in the comments, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Note: As Media Create did not provide updated sales figures last week, this week's sales data is presented without comparison. We will return to the standard up/down format next week.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 22 Dec 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/stiq-figures-november-24-30-coming-in-2015-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/stiq-figures-november-24-30-coming-in-2015-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/stiq-figures-november-24-30-coming-in-2015-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Our to-play lists may still be a little bloated from this year's offerings, but this weekend's PlayStation Experience (and past Gamescom and E3 presentations) proved there's no shortage of games planned to launch in 2015. If you need a refresher: Batman: Arkham Knight, Rainbow Six: Siege, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Quantum Break, Persona 5 ... even before you get to smaller titles, there's a ton on its way! Sometimes there's a frontrunner with a firm grasp on our attention though, so before we delve into Game of the Year talk, let's exchange our most-anticipated games due within the next year.

I'll cave to my predictable nature - Give me Yoshi's Wooly World, a friend for co-op play and an open weekend. While the Yoshi-themed aesthetics were my initial draw, my time spent hurling crocheted eggs at E3 2014 was surprisingly promising. The stages I tried were inventive enough with the arts-and-crafts theme to keep it from feeling like a thin, irrelevant cover, and the level design reminded me more of the original Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island than the series' handheld outings. I expected to take a half-hearted romp through a cute platformer, but I left the booth compelled and eager to unravel Wooly World's full adventure.

Of course, some other announcement could blindside me in the coming months and steal away my focus. How about you? Which games from next year's extensive lineup are you itching to play? Tell us what you've seen that has you looking forward to next year's releases, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales beyond the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 08 Dec 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/stiq-figures-november-17-23-video-game-movies-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/stiq-figures-november-17-23-video-game-movies-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/stiq-figures-november-17-23-video-game-movies-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Many directors have tried to convert video games into movies or TV series, and manymore will probably try to do the same. Regardless of whether our ideas hold any merit, it's fun to think of what we would do if we were calling the shots concerning an acting cast and a pile of money.

My ideal is entirely unreasonable and basically ignores the challenge of making a good script, but I wouldn't mind seeing a well-funded, cinematic take on the Bayonetta series. I essentially just want an excuse to watch 90 minutes of over-the-top choreography and spectacular setpieces on the silver screen, and a project that incorporates the ideas of Hideki Kamiya sounds like a safe bet for both.

What would you do, though? Which game would you adapt, who would you put in the director's chair and, most importantly, would it be a musical? Share your games-to-movie adaptation ideas with us in the comments, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 01 Dec 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/stiq-figures-november-10-16-best-communities-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/stiq-figures-november-10-16-best-communities-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/stiq-figures-november-10-16-best-communities-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Modern gaming is seemingly more about online play with each month, and though that apparently means we'll see plenty of rockylaunches, it doesn't seem like a design convention that's going to change anytime soon. Online communities don't exactly have a sterling reputation as warm, enjoyable scenes, but some of them stand as welcome exceptions.

For example, every match I played of Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast started with opponents awkwardly bowing in the middle of an arena before slicing each other up with lightsabers. Rivals were also consistently willing to explain a mechanic to me when I was still new and didn't really know what I was doing, and though I was always an easy kill, no one ever took me out when I was clearly fumbling with controls over in a corner.

What about you? Is there a game out there that kind of felt like a huge circle of friends after a while? If you don't have a reflection on a game's entire community, was there an atmosphere with a few other players that made your time with that game substantially better? Tell us about the best people you've encountered playing games online, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Game series that nail a play style several times over tend to earn a long-standing fondness from their admirers. Fresh debuts and experiences are important, but having a gaming equivalent of reliable comfort food definitely doesn't hurt.

For me, 2D Mario games comprise my comfort series. Aside from the handheld entries of the New Super Mario Bros. series, I can play them dozens of times and still have fun even after a game's wealth of secrets is depleted. I think of the series as the ideal feel for platforming - even with great entries to the genre like Super Meat Boy and Rayman Legends, the play style found in Mario games still has my favorite "feel" to them within the genre.

What about you? Which series feels like the trustworthy pal you can always head to for a few great hours? Share your mostly-unwavering favorites with us, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 17 Nov 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/stiq-figures-october-27-november-11-loveable-oddballs-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/stiq-figures-october-27-november-11-loveable-oddballs-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/stiq-figures-october-27-november-11-loveable-oddballs-editio/#comments
Too-serious protagonists surrounded by stoic fighters have a time and place, but slogging through stern-faced casts can make everything seem a bit dull. For a medium thriving on fantasy worlds, the capacity for goofiness can feel pretty neglected at times. In a way, that makes the outlandish exceptions stand out more easily, and while they might not always be the lead, they still deserve some recognition.

As carefree as Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U is, the presence of Duck Hunt is the cherry on top of the brawler's roster for me. The series is no stranger to left-field appearances, but I was surprised how quickly it could convert me to Huge Fan status for a dog that's literally pointed and laughed at my ineptitude for decades. Fending off approaches with clay skeet shooting disks and the trick shot can from Hogan's Alley just seals the deal for me - Duck Hunt conquered Villager and Toon Link as my favorite Smash Bros. roster apperance, hands down.

What about you? Which absurd character has earned your affection, regardless of whether they were tasked with lightening up a brooding, gritty plot? Share your favorite oddballs with us, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Assuming you've bought one at all, you've had a fair amount of time to settle in with your preferred modern console by now. Whether it was cool games, the prospect of cool games or some other features that lured you in, its dashboard might feel like a second home by now, host to many wonderful hours of your favorite games. But what about the box(es) you left on the shelf? What about the consoles that, at one point, didn't have what it takes to earn a spot beneath your TV?

This edition of Stiq Figures is all about second chances, and with the start of deal season in mind, I ask: What would the gaming consoles you don't own need to do before you would consider picking them up? Wanting more 3rd party support, cooler exclusives, more enticing system-wide features or just a different shade of plastic wrapped around its innards - pretty much everything is fair game here.

If your only machine-shaped absence in life is a gaming-capable PC, feel free to explain what would need to change before diving into that experience as well. Since my summer purchase of an Xbox One was my final moment of caving during this console generation though, it's all about you this week. Share what you're looking for from the consoles that have yet to join your home, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 03 Nov 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/stiq-figures-october-13-19-when-fear-takes-over-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/stiq-figures-october-13-19-when-fear-takes-over-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/stiq-figures-october-13-19-when-fear-takes-over-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Halloween is days away, making it the perfect time to settle in for a couple scares from your favorite interactive medium. Sometimes the horrors faced are a little more than you anticipated though, and while some people could sit through anything with a stoic demeanor, I'm definitely not one of them. When a game scares me, the near vicinity knows it.

For example: Silent Hill 3 was one of my first horror games, and while I was new to the genre, I knew playing alone and in the dark was part of the whole thing. I was on edge but generally managing things until I reached the basement of a hospital, where I found an overturned wheelchair with its in-air wheel still squeakily spinning. As my eyes followed a trail of blood leading from the chair and out of sight around a corner, my fragile novice state snapped, and I dropped the controller to go turn on every last light in the house.

I did manage to finish SH3 and was proud to conquer Fatal Frame later on, ghostly demon children and all, but I've yet to reach the end of last year's Outlast. You win, creepy guy patrolling the basement; you've stopped me from turning the power back on. What about you, though? Have you met your horror-related limits in a game, or did something outside the genre get creepy enough to scare you off? Share your breaking points with us in the comments, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales data after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 27 Oct 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/stiq-figures-october-6-12-why-did-i-earn-that-achievement-ed/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/stiq-figures-october-6-12-why-did-i-earn-that-achievement-ed/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/stiq-figures-october-6-12-why-did-i-earn-that-achievement-ed/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Achievements can either feel like cool challenges to chase or irrelevant hoops to jump through. However, this conversation is less about the concept's merits and more about the achievements that we're still unsure why we ever bothered with. Why did we force ourselves through games with an arm effectively tied behind our backs, wielding only our weakest weapon? Was it actually fun? Is there much for bragging rights if you regret spending the time to this day?

I'm definitely not one to judge - when my obsession with achievements was at its prime, my afterschool routine was hours of Perfect Dark Zero, feebly chasing the 1,000-match achievements for multiplayer match types. Before I convinced myself that I didn't care anymore, I cleared Grand Theft Auto 4 of pigeons, found every last Animus fragment in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, and chased Gears of War's 10,000-kill "Seriously" achievement for far longer than I should have.

Which outlandish achievements did you conquer (or attempt to) before realizing you weren't having fun anymore? Share your virtual points-related regrets with us, right after you check out the New 3DS' debut in the Japanese hardware sales numbers after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 20 Oct 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/stiq-figures-september-29-october-5-favorite-controller-edit/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/stiq-figures-september-29-october-5-favorite-controller-edit/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/stiq-figures-september-29-october-5-favorite-controller-edit/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Decades of consoles and peripherals have given us a pile of play styles to get comfortable with, and even if there's nothing suited to your tastes in there, modifying a shoe box isn't out of the question. That wealth of options allows for a diverse range of personal tastes though, and it'd be neat to see where the hearts (and thumbs) of Joystiq readers prefer to roam.

Personally, I haven't found anything that beats the Super Nintendo's layout. There are enough buttons to allow for reasonably-complex gameplay, but nothing feels obnoxiously out of reach or uncomfortable to use. Its shape also didn't dig into my palms like the NES' pad did, making stints of Super Mario World less about comfort and more about the Koopa Kids' life expectancy.

That's me, though. What's the best controller you've ever used? Are you partial to a particular edition of the DualShock, or does the Power Pad have your adoration to this day? Sound off on your favorite controllers, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 13 Oct 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/stiq-figures-september-22-28-do-you-like-collectibles-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/stiq-figures-september-22-28-do-you-like-collectibles-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/stiq-figures-september-22-28-do-you-like-collectibles-editio/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

So you've just built a world worthy of an adventure, but how do you decorate its less-traveled paths? What do you use to pull the hero away from a direct point A-to-B trek to topple the central antagonist? Health? Okay, but they might not need it. Resources? Maybe they're borrowing enough from the enemies they're trouncing to get by. Collectibles can seem like a logical choice, but if the balance of finding trinkets and advancing the main focus is botched, they can end up feeling like chores instead of fun scavenger hunts.

For the most part, the ratio of action to scrounging found in action adventures like Batman: Arkham Asylum or the Metroid series resonates most strongly with me. There's ample rewards to track down if I feel so inclined, but for the most part, it's fairly effortless to give up on a particular bonus and go back to the main task at hand. When difficult bosses force me to become exceptional at combat or go stock up on upgrades, that feels fair and enjoyable to me. What's less enjoyable is locking main stages behind gates until I find enough of something (Banjo-Kazooie), or spreading collectibles that serve no purpose beyond achievements (Grand Theft Auto 4's pigeons).

What about you? Which game strikes you as just the right amount of collecting, and have there been any that you've walked away from due to obnoxious hunts? Maybe you're not even a fan in the first place and feel like they distract from what you'd rather focus on? Share your thoughts with us in the comments, right after you collect this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 06 Oct 2014 09:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/29/stiq-figures-september-15-21-winners-dont-use-drugs-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/29/stiq-figures-september-15-21-winners-dont-use-drugs-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/29/stiq-figures-september-15-21-winners-dont-use-drugs-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Wondering through the glowing pathways of a thunderous arcade has yet to get old, but watching the style of play steadily recede into obscurity certainly has. Online play is now immensely more popular than standing beside an opponent at a cabinet, and while it's a bittersweet tradeoff, it doesn't mean we can't reminisce about our all-time favorites from our luminous mazes of machines, even if they were designed to drain our savings before we realized what happened.

Metal Slug X might hold the all-time quarter-draining record for me, but X-Men and The Simpsons Arcade Game made a respectable effort for the title. I was awful at Bust-a-Move, but it was still a routine stop before I ever ran out of coins. I didn't have the reflexes needed to get through Area 51, but that didn't stop me from loving it (or Tekken 2, despite my ineptitude at combos). Attempts at the Donkey Kong and Galaga leaderboards rounded out the games I played most often, . And then there was that Dance Dance Revolution tipping point ...

As logical as the financial and cultural factors are for the fade of arcades, I still miss trying new games locked in bulking, intimidating machines and going from stranger to teammate in seconds. What about you? Which games were your go-tos, and did you ever manage to beat them? Tell us about your arcade heydays in the comments, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 29 Sep 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/stiq-figures-september-8-14-all-at-once-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/stiq-figures-september-8-14-all-at-once-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/stiq-figures-september-8-14-all-at-once-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

You've probably finished quite a few movies in one sitting, but video games are longer, more demanding and generally built for multiple sessions. Fatigue from doing the same thing for more than several hours is completely sensible, and yet, a rare game can override that, compelling you to sit put until you're watching the credits scroll. Of course, having a term paper you really don't want to write helps with your incentives quite a bit ...

Aside from brawlers, Portal 2 is the only game I remember finishing from start to finish in one go. No warp pipes, no shortcuts, just an eight-hour plow through puzzles, exquisite dialog and an oddly heartwarming reunion. As someone who typically bores with games regardless of quality after more than two consecutive hours, I was both impressed and a little frightened by how quickly Valve's puzzler drained an entire day from my weekend. Suddenly the sun was gone, leaving my blank, glowing word document as the only source of light in our living room.

Have you managed to accidentally clear a full game in a single session, or is there one you specifically set out to conquer as quickly as possible your first time through? Tell us about the games you've finished in one go and what compelled you to see it through, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 22 Sep 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/stiq-figures-september-1-7-paying-for-early-samples-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/stiq-figures-september-1-7-paying-for-early-samples-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/stiq-figures-september-1-7-paying-for-early-samples-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

With the rise of digital storefronts and all-in-one gaming consoles, there are a few more options to distribute demos than bundling compilation discs with gaming magazines. The modern difference is particularly underlined with Steam's Early Access, where betas and generally-unfinished portions of games can be sold with the promise of eventual full admission to the final experience. It seems increasingly more common for pre-orders to be rewarded with a headstart too, as was the case with Destiny's beta.

The decision to pay for access to unfinished concepts is always in the hands of a player, of course, but between Kickstarters, Early Access and pre-order samples, it all makes me wonder: How do you feel about it? Is there a thrill to getting a headstart on something you've been dying to play, even if it's rough around the edges or a year away from completion? Would you prefer it if development teams stuck to trailers, press releases and livestreams to promote their work? Is a compelling Kickstarter pitch enough to get a few bucks from you?

It feels like a conversation with a lot of angles to consider, and it'd be interesting to hear when you consider a project finished enough to spend some cash on a taste of it. Share your perspective on demos, betas and any other form of pre-launch gaming you have thoughts on, right after you check the Xbox One's debut in this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 15 Sep 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/stiq-figures-august-25-31-camping-for-video-games-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/stiq-figures-august-25-31-camping-for-video-games-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/stiq-figures-august-25-31-camping-for-video-games-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Destiny is less than 48 hours away, and I imagine plenty of you wish you could just skip ahead to the moment its servers go live. As agonizing as the final days of waiting can be, counting down to a highly-anticipated game (or console) can be a lot of fun, especially if you've got a group of like-minded friends or a launch event to attend.

Thanks to Amazon, I'll probably never have to join the freezing ranks of diehard fans in tents, but I was happy to wait in a GameStop for a few hours during Super Smash Bros. Brawl's launch. I had avoided as many character reveals and general details as possible, but watching my friends get crushed in a pre-launch tournament was kind of great, as was chatting with the mass of strangers united by a love for Smash. Of course, it was a race to get home as soon as midnight rolled around, followed by a futile attempt to quietly lose our composure over Brawl's opening sequence.

Launch tournaments aren't everyone's bag, of course. What's the best event you've held or attended for a release date? Did you schedule an entire day with friends to burn on your new arrival? Which game or console was it that had you wishing hours could pass as fast as minutes? Tell us about your favorite launch memories, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 08 Sep 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/stiq-figures-lets-trade-dream-crossovers-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/stiq-figures-lets-trade-dream-crossovers-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/stiq-figures-lets-trade-dream-crossovers-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

I remember dreaming up improbable video game crossovers with my schoolyard friends. While none of our strokes of genius have been specifically catered to, I must have left our childhood sketchbooks at an industry event or something, because suddenly bizarre, wishful-thinking collaborations are completely reasonable. A full-on Pokemon fighting game with talent from the Tekken and Soul Calibur series? A narrative-driven take on the Borderlands series from Telltale? A mashup of Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei?

Now that improbable is the new possible, we might as well exchange our most-wanted team-ups in a public thread, just in case someone with a lot of money is bored enough to make exactly one of us incredibly happy. Personally, I would love to see Sin and Punishment 2 developer Treasure work with Nintendo on a spiritual successor to Star Fox 64. I think the on-rails arcade shooter style suits that series best, and I think Treasure's experience with the Sin & Punishment series would perfectly lend itself to what I'm looking for from Fox McCloud's adventures: A clever, blissfully-frantic shooter that's as fun to conquer the first time as it is the 50th.

That's just my request, though; what are you wishing for? Feel free to focus on video game series or just two particular development teams - the important thing is telling us about your dream project so we can join in on yearning for what might never happen. Break our hearts Tell us about your ideal crossover in the comments, right after you check this week's hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 01 Sep 2014 06:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/25/stiq-figures-august-11-17-successors-we-never-got-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/25/stiq-figures-august-11-17-successors-we-never-got-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/25/stiq-figures-august-11-17-successors-we-never-got-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Between the wealth of traditional powerhouse studios and smaller teams that thrive in digital stores, holding out for one particular game announcement can feel kind of ridiculous. There's so much out there to play! And yet, it's not our fault that a certain game or series was everything we ever wanted. We can keep replaying something that's truly excellent, sure, but what if it were expanded on with an intelligent, captivating follow up? For many gamers, there's a particular game that would instill utter elation if it gained a successor, and this week's Stiq Figures is all about those dream games that might happen ... someday.

Personally, I wouldn't mind a Super Mario Sunshine sequel. As someone who has spent most of his gaming time hoarding coins and stocking 1-Ups, I genuinely enjoyed struggling with Sunshine. I know Mario's mechanics well, but FLUDD's water-powered twist on platforming left me struggling to gather enough Shines to just reach the last stage. Sunshine was a left field experimentation with my favorite universe, and for the most part I was pleased with its additions.

I know there are far more obscure games out there with devoted fans, though. Whether it was a singular adventure or a spinoff/odd turn for a series like Sunshine, which new game reveal would make your year? Share your development-related hopes and dreams with us in the comments, right after you check out this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 25 Aug 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/stiq-figures-august-8-10-missed-opportunities-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/stiq-figures-august-8-10-missed-opportunities-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/stiq-figures-august-8-10-missed-opportunities-edition/#comments
I was a pretty big Rock Band fan back in the day. I purchased the complete set of plastic instruments and then some, making sure I had plenty of options for guests to utilize during weekly bouts of strumming, drumming and humming. I spent hours tweaking and brainstorming band names and logos until I came up with the perfect one for me and my buddies: Last Survivors of the Nostromo. Pop culture references!

Anyway, Rock Band was great, but I was always surprised and a bit disappointed that one of my favorite songs of all time never made it onto the game's downloadable charts. That song: "Everything is Alright" by Motion City Soundtrack. It's a happy, peppy song with what I feel are clever lyrics and catchy hooks. The drum part toward the end of the song is especially fun to air-wail to, and I always crank it loud whenever it comes up on my mp3 player.

So for this week's Stiq Figures, what are the dream games and/or features that you always wished to see but never did? Mine is a song from a music game, but maybe one of your favorite characters from a book or movie never made it into the video game adaptation, or you're still waiting for a video game based on the book Gravity's Rainbow? Tell us in the comments below, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 18 Aug 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/11/stiq-figures-i-actually-enjoyed-that-boss-fight-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/11/stiq-figures-i-actually-enjoyed-that-boss-fight-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/11/stiq-figures-i-actually-enjoyed-that-boss-fight-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Designing final bosses has to be a hell of a challenge; incorporating the best elements from hours of gameplay and driving the story's conclusion, all while supplying a satisfying challenge fit for a finale? It's a tough balance to strike from a player's perspective, and as a result it feels commonplace to wonder if "that's really it?" after stomping down antagonists.

Recalling my personal experience, credit is due to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Sure, I was a younger, more-easily-intimidated Hero of Time when I first faced Ganondorf, but I fell for every moment of Ocarina's final encounter. Swells of pride from conquering my first adventure game's "final" moments were abruptly flushed with fear - facing further challenges was hugely intimidating, but I slowly learned to dodge and properly fight instead of leaning on bottled faeries. That last battle felt like a well-balanced exam, one that ensured I truly learned Ocarina's mechanics before letting me savor an ending scene sweetened by victory.

What qualifies as a great battle for me might conflict with your personal tastes, though. What seals the deal on a final fight for you? Do you hope for a brutally difficult foe that will take days of learning patterns to overcome? Do you appreciate left-field surprises, either in a narrative or gameplay sense? Tell us about the bosses that stand out from the pile of baddies you've bested over the years, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 11 Aug 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/04/stiq-figures-july-21-27-up-up-down-down-b-a-start-edit/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/04/stiq-figures-july-21-27-up-up-down-down-b-a-start-edit/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/04/stiq-figures-july-21-27-up-up-down-down-b-a-start-edit/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Earning a sense of accomplishment is great and all, but sometimes ... sometimes you're willing to trade an earned sense of pride for what really matters: victory. Cheats are a shortcut to "I'm a jerk" territory in competitive online games, but when you're stacking the odds unreasaonbly against AI opponents, it can make for a great, guilt-free time. The scope of cheating can result in some pretty interesting gameplay twists too, though the bread and butter "make me god-like" codes can still work magic in the right game.

I'll level with you all: even with StarCraft's currency and supply-related cheats, I've still never cleared the Protoss campaign. That's a pretty bleak level of ineptitude, but at least using "power overwhelming" to turn mineral-gathering Probes into slow-but-steady death machines makes me feel better about it: "Oh, you've surrounded my drone with Zerglings and acid-spewing Hydralisks? That's cute, prepare to kiss your Hive goodbye ... in about 8 minutes."

In terms of cheating purely for entertainment value, I think Grand Theft Auto 4 was the first in the series where I didn't instinctively use weapons cheats. For years, the GTA series was just about finding calm in the utter havoc I caused, and if an ammo shortage was the only thing in the way of my zen, cheats were an immediate solution.

What about you? Have you had to resort to cheats to persevere through a game's toughest challenges, or is there a particular code that's actually made games more enjoyable for you? Tell us all about your favorites, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 04 Aug 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/28/stiq-figures-july-14-20-breaking-the-bank-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/28/stiq-figures-july-14-20-breaking-the-bank-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/28/stiq-figures-july-14-20-breaking-the-bank-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

In a fantasy land, every game we want to play would be set at a manageable price, or just flat-out free. In reality, cool experiences are made by people, and people tend to need food to, you know ... not die. Price tags are part of how this whole video game industry thing works, and while $60 is the standard asking price for most things sitting on a shelf in a box these days, it's not end-all ceiling for pricing.

Special editions, season passes, a la carte DLC models, micro transactions, buying from a third party, wait-it-out Game Of The Year editions - there are plenty of pricing options out there, both for gamers and game creators. Choice is good, but what I'm wondering is: what's the most you've ever paid for a game? If you count the Rock Band series as a singular experience, it's the standout expense in my collection. With the initial $170 bundle, a second guitar, two microphones, six disc-based expansions and hundreds of DLC songs, I've spent more than $1,000 on Harmonix's music maker.

If you ​don't count a music library as one game, well ... oddly enough, I've never crossed the $60 threshold for anything else. Collector's editions aren't my thing, and if I get the sense I'll want a bunch of downloadable content, I just wait the year or so it takes for a GOTY edition to arrive. Though, if you count purchasing a console for a single game as a combined purchase ... then that puts Fantasia: Music Evolvedat a $560 total for me. I foresee some Amiibo and Super Smash Bros.-related damage to my bank account, too.

What about you? Have you splurged on the Ultra Megazord Collector's Edition for your favorite series, bought a fight stick made out of diamonds or bit the triple-digit bullet to buy that rare game you've been dying to try? Tell us about the peaks of your gaming purchases, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 28 Jul 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/21/stiq-figures-july-7-13-video-games-in-space-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/21/stiq-figures-july-7-13-video-games-in-space-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/21/stiq-figures-july-7-13-video-games-in-space-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

It seems like this week's conversation was dominated by Destinybeta talk, which makes sense given expectations circling Bungie's shooter and the general summer drought. Not everyone can get into a sorta-MMO though, and that's okay - there's more than enough room in the vastness of space for multiple gaming genres. There's something about that endless vacuum's allure that's just so damn exciting too, so why not reminisce on our favorite intergalactic adventures?

Mass Effect 2 can have its obligatory mention, but since I've already run my fondness for that game into the ground, it's time for Descent 2 to get some recognition. Sure, I was a kid the first time I clunked my way through Descent 2's winding chambers and tunnels, but the majority of its robots still creep me the hell out to this day. Why do the Medium Lifters all have crimson-splattered claws? What are they lifting that stains red, if not the innards of squishy human pilots?

Getting blown to bits by unsettling polygons is easily worth it though - Descent 2's balance of exploration with round-the-corner fights masters a sense of tension that's still a blast for me to revisit. I never feel like I've seen everything Descent 2 has stowed away, and I also never feel safe searching its infested mines, considering the enemies lurking between me and each stage's exit.

But maybe Descent 2's float-and-shoot space dogfights aren't your favorite sort of adventure in the Citadel universe either. Why don't you tell us what is? Right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break, of course.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 21 Jul 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/stiq-figures-june-30-july-7-best-gaming-weaponry-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/stiq-figures-june-30-july-7-best-gaming-weaponry-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/stiq-figures-june-30-july-7-best-gaming-weaponry-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Real-world weaponry is usually designed to adhere to mundane details like logistics, effectiveness and reality-heeding characteristics, but in video games, the "stupidly awesome" attribute can take priority. A pistol with a safety lever and a simplistic, lightweight build? Sounds ... practical, I guess. A gun that looks like it's part of Mattel's holiday lineup which shoots exploding crystalized shards? Stupidly awesome!

Virtual worlds let weapon designers focus on their visions rather than feasibility, and the results inspired by that freedom are always neat to see. It allows for more than fantastical sidearms like the Gears of War series' Lancer, too: arsenals can meld revolver chambers and motors with blades, or weave beasts and giant fists using garments made from hair. Decades of off-the-wall designs can make it seem like every possible bizarre creation has been achieved, and then something like Saints Row 3's Penetrator happens.

Is there a virtual weapon you've brandished that stands out to you, either from a design or effectiveness viewpoint? Tell us about your favorites, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 14 Jul 2014 05:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/07/stiq-figures-june-23-29-never-want-to-leave-this-world-editi/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/07/stiq-figures-june-23-29-never-want-to-leave-this-world-editi/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/07/stiq-figures-june-23-29-never-want-to-leave-this-world-editi/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Crafting enticing fantasy content is tough. Plenty of games struggle just with developing an enjoyable protagonist, let alone an entertaining cast and an involving reason to see the journey's end. All of that imagination ultimately constructs a game's universe, an accumulative representation of a team's efforts, and when you consider everything that could detract that accumulative representation of a team's efforts, it's amplifies the impressiveness of the feat that is compelling players to care.

Of course, a game's focus can be highlighted by different versions of excellence - Fez's mystery-riddled labyrinth feels barren in comparison to large-scale creations like The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, but both instill a hunger for adventure in their own ways. It doesn't always have to be about exploring every minute detail either - Limbo's silhouettes didn't have or need chapters of lore to explore. They just needed pointy edges to run away from.

Whichever world this subject reminded you of, the important part is that you love spending time in it. Something about the environments, characters or just some seemingly-inane attribute makes returning for an hour or two effortless. Tell us about the captivating game worlds that have made returning to the real one difficult, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 07 Jul 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/stiq-figures-june-16-22-i-miss-action-sports-games-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/stiq-figures-june-16-22-i-miss-action-sports-games-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/stiq-figures-june-16-22-i-miss-action-sports-games-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Between serious simulators and strap-on-your-face VR devices, video games can mimic real-world experiences pretty well. Still, it's great to have options, you know? Not everything needs to be an extensively-technical representation of reality, and that point is probably best proven if we look at the sports category for a second: remember when over-the-top, arcade-style representations of sports were about as prominent as the straight-forward Madden and NHL games?

Yeah, it reads a bit like the "back in my day" drivel, but I guess that's what it ultimately is. It's neat to see developers turn out more technically and visually-impressive sports games each year, but it's tough not to miss the Tony Hawk series' million-point combosand the full departure from reality that was the San Francisco Rush series. That sort-of lost style probably waned with the totally rad attitude that was predominant in '90s culture, it wouldn't exactly be awful if it had its turn at coming back into fashion.

It's not like lighthearted sports games are entirelyextinct, but it would be nice to see a little more of the style that supported things like the JetMoto series. Settling for a new Burnout game wouldn't be too rough, either. Is there an old sports game you miss that was more focused on entertainment than roster stats? Tell us about them - maybe we'll have to track down a copy for ourselves - once you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 30 Jun 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/23/stiq-figures-june-9-15-compelling-minigames-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/23/stiq-figures-june-9-15-compelling-minigames-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/23/stiq-figures-june-9-15-compelling-minigames-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Buying a game is usually all about the front-and-center content, but sometimes what's meant to be a side attraction kind of steals the show. It's weird how a well-crafted minigame can steal attention away from stuff that was featured across online banners and TV spots months before a game's release, but at the same time, that kind of surprise is easy to appreciate.

Sonic Adventure 2 is a prime example of mine - while I enjoyed sprinting through levels as Sonic and switching between casts in the game's good and evil campaigns, there was a surprisingly-compelling side attraction in the Chao Garden, a sort-of pet simulator. At the time, it felt like a fleshed out version of the Tamagachi I had as a kid, and I burned plenty of time bumming around the space and boosting my Chao's stats so it could compete in minigames. I ... may have also gotten a kick out of hurling Chaos as far across the map as possible.

Returning to SA2 in recent years hasn't proven to be as fun as my memories of it, but entering the Chao Garden is still a good time. While I'm at it, I should give a shout out Final Fantasy 8's Triple Triad card game too - for as awful at it as I was and still am, I've still spent hours losing cards to any character that's willing to play a round against me.

Has there been a minigame that's kept you enchanted, maybe even moreso than a game's main campaign? Help me acknowledge the side content that doesn't necessarily feel like side content, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 23 Jun 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/16/stiq-figures-june-2-8-up-all-night-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/16/stiq-figures-june-2-8-up-all-night-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/16/stiq-figures-june-2-8-up-all-night-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Things are nearly back to normal after E3 2014, including our sleep schedules. It's been a while since we've endured the 3:30 a.m. haze, teetering from side to side, keeping our brains awake with cold drinks and sheer willpower. Late nights aren't always about being productive though - some games sap hours from the clock without us noticing, but they're usually so good at their craft that we hardly mind.

Persona 3 is king of claiming dozens of hours I initially intended for sleep. I'd bike home from double shifts of cooking and waiting tables and head straight for the PS2, eager to clear a few more floors of the towering, Shadow-filled Tartarus. Fusing Personas and studying for virtual grades led to plenty of sluggish real-world lunch shifts, but every journey home ended the same way.

I spend free time more conservatively now that my schedule's filled with shifts and errands, but I'm wary of the same scenario happening when I start The Witcher 2 tonight. Are there any games that have conquered your latest hours? Maybe you have weekly shootouts with friends online or get regularly lost in a compelling MMO? Tell us about the games that steal away your nights after checking this week's Japanese hardware sales past the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 16 Jun 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/09/stiq-figures-may-26-june-1-awful-e3-moments-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/09/stiq-figures-may-26-june-1-awful-e3-moments-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/09/stiq-figures-may-26-june-1-awful-e3-moments-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

We wound ourselves up over dream E3 reveals last week, but we haven't reminisced about the uh, high points of prior E3s yet. It's rare that a sales pitch isn't cringeworthy, especially when it's rehearsed, on a vacant stage and accompanied by applause from planted attendees. There are definitely past presentations that excel in awfulness though, and maybe if we talk about them, we'll inspire some last-minute script changes to spare this year's presenters from becoming tomorrow's GIFs! Or maybe zebras will sprout wings and burn down every metropolis known to man with their newfound fire breathing capabilities, but whatever, we can still have a little fun with this.

While the "finale" of Nintendo's 2012 E3 presentation isn't the most outrageous gaff, I think it's still the one that has drove me up the wall most. After burning so much time demonstrating Nintendolandand lacking a genuine surprise in the rest of their conference, I desperately hoped for a last-minute surprise, preferably something like the initial reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Watching Nintendo instead wrap its conference with virtual fireworks was surprisingly agonizing - I've certainly never resented colorful explosions before that moment.

There's plenty of other moments to call out though, and with a new batch of conferences kicking off tomorrow, now's the time to recall the worst missteps we've already witnessed. Tell us about the convention moments that stick out in your mind as exceptionally terrible, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 09 Jun 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/02/stiq-figures-may-19-25-e3-wish-list-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/02/stiq-figures-may-19-25-e3-wish-list-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/02/stiq-figures-may-19-25-e3-wish-list-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

We're drawing closer to the biggest gaming convention of the year, and judging by the recent frequency of leaks, it feels safe to assume a few more surprises will be ruined before E3 actually kicks off. That's sort of my excuse for jumping the gun with this topic a weekend early - aside from rumors and not-so-vague hints, most of us are still relatively in the dark on what to expect from this year's show. That means we can still properly get our hopes up for both obvious and never-gonna-happen game reveals!

In the spirit of building myself up for nothing, I'm going to cross my fingers for a Pokemon Snap sequel. All it would really have to do is expand its Pokedex and offer a lengthier tour of Pokemon regions and I'd be set. It would be great to see Samus return to her previous form, too - I really miss the grid-based exploration from her side scrolling outings and the superb feeling of isolation that runs rampant through Metroid Prime. Also, I might cause a small scene if we aren't shown a demo or at least more footage for that Wii U Yoshi game.

I'm hoping for plenty of Kingdom Hearts 3, Final Fantasy 15 and Mirror's Edge 2 footage as well, but I'm still pretty excited for the debuts and left-field reveals that might take me from zero to hyped in one trailer. It's dangerous to put a ton of faith in presentation footage, that's for sure, but that sense of being immediately won over by a new premise or story is oddly satisfying.

I've probably missed something worth anticipating, though. What are you looking forward to hearing about during E3? Whether it's essentially confirmed at this point or based entirely on wishful thinking on your part, swap lists with us in the comments, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 02 Jun 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/26/stiq-figures-may-12-18-using-social-features-in-games-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/26/stiq-figures-may-12-18-using-social-features-in-games-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/26/stiq-figures-may-12-18-using-social-features-in-games-editio/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

It's certainly not a secret, but our consoles are increasingly becoming more than just video game machines. Support for streaming apps is as expected as wireless controllers at this point, and features that boost a player's presence in social communities feel like the next universal standard. Inboxes, pop-up messages, pages filled to the brim with every stat you could ever want to know about your friends' game time - all of that doesn't even take into account the games that assign themselves the duty of serving socialites, like the incoming Driveclub.

There are plenty of potential reasons for the influx of social tools - it could be to meet player expectations, to help a community keep playing together for years to come, to use players as promotional tools on social media, or all of the above. It doesn't feel like something that'll fade away anytime soon, but my question to you is: do you care? Has there been a game that you've significantly enjoyed because of built-in or console-supplemented social features, some service that keeps your friends and rivals in the center of your mind? Or is it similar to the other features you glance over once on the back of the box before plugging away at the content that most interests you?

This is normally where I offer examples from my perspective of a topic, but aside from a week of scrolling through Miiverse posts and a stint of war-waging messages over Geometry Wars 2, I've never bothered with social elements to games. It's mostly fluff to me - my online matches are always pre-meditated, I'm not really concerned with the trophies my friends have earned, and pop-up alerts became frequent enough for me to turn them off so I could focus on what I'm there for.

I'm by no means a great measurement of the average gamer though, so I'd like to see where this stuff lands for you. Are social features nice once in a while, something you use all the time, or totally irrelevant to your play style? Share your view in the comments, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 26 May 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/19/stiq-figures-may-5-11-developers-that-get-you-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/19/stiq-figures-may-5-11-developers-that-get-you-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/19/stiq-figures-may-5-11-developers-that-get-you-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Lots of people like video games, and whenever a hobby grows to the size of something like the gaming industry, there's a lot of unique tastes to cater to. It's probably true that the only way to get your dream game exactly the way you want is to make it yourself, but the involved skill, time and financial-shaped hurdles make that tough for plenty of people.

Maybe there's a studio out there that just seems to get you, though. One that seems to build games you've wanted to play for years, or maybe one can even craft a style of game you never would have seen yourself playing, but you end up loving it. Most gamers that I talk with seem to know of one or two studios like this - teams that, in their eyes, can do no wrong.

For me, I'm pretty sure that's Harmonix. I had a PS2 demo disc that featured a track or two of Frequency, and I played it regularly until a bin of used games taught me there was a sequel called Amplitude. I was eager to try Guitar Hero and finally caved when Rock Band debuted, starting a five-year obsession with a $170 box of plastic instruments on the game's launch day. Despite having reservations toward the Kinect and an outright contempt for dancing, I even gave Dance Central a shot. Surprise, I dug that, too.

Is there a developer that has a similar track record with you? Was there at one point, like the golden era of Rare, but they've now been shuttered or reorganized into something else? That's totally okay - modern or not, tell us about those studios and why you love their work so much, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 19 May 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/12/stiq-figures-april-28-may-4-genre-starting-points-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/12/stiq-figures-april-28-may-4-genre-starting-points-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/12/stiq-figures-april-28-may-4-genre-starting-points-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Gaming genres are a nice tool when you're looking for a particular style of game, but playing it too safe can get stale and cheat you out of experiences you'd never expect to enjoy. Yes, there's the risk of spending money on something you won't enjoy purely because it doesn't work with your tastes, which is part of what makes rentals, demoes and sampling a friend's collection so great.

My near-absolute boredom with sports simulators kept me away from a whole section of games beyond their Mario-branded, sort-of equivalents. Despite that, four months of insistence from my car-junkie friends convinced me to give Forza Motorsport 2 a chance. I wasn't converted into a motor head, and the day I correctly identify a car part beyond a steering wheel is still going to be a revelation, but I spent a bizarre month hooked on unlocking parts and shaving down lap times in Forza 2. It lacked the item-fueled frenzy I was used to, but what it offered was so well made that I didn't really mind.

I've got similar "that one game" stories for other genres: StarCraft taught me I could enjoy real-time strategy games despite being miserable at them The Legend of Dragoon eased me into RPGs by partially letting me make up for awful strategies with a competence for timing, and Street Fighter 2 helped me treat fighting games as more than just a button-mashing, I-couldn't-win-if-I-tried affair. There was a time when I was dead set against touching any genre beyond platformers, but one by one, I was won over by great games.

Do you recall certain games serving as your first step into a genre you had never bothered playing before hand? What were they, and what was it about them that changed your mind? Let us know in the comments below, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales data after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 12 May 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/05/stiq-figures-april-21-27-games-ruined-by-lost-saves-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/05/stiq-figures-april-21-27-games-ruined-by-lost-saves-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/05/stiq-figures-april-21-27-games-ruined-by-lost-saves-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Video games are great and all, but it's amazing how many hours some of them can drain from your life. It isn't tough to get interested in a well-developed alternate universe that desperately needs a hero - the real challenge is finding the time to be that hero between classes, paying bills or the rest of the real world's responsibilities. Great games will make you find a way, but sometimes even the classics can't pull you back in after a lost save negates hours of work, sending you back to the New Game screen.

RPGs are the easy suspect here, and I've had my fair share of epic adventures cut short - I could never take another serious swing at Pokemon Red after losing my level 82 Charizard to a dead battery, and as much as I loved The Legend of Dragoon, I could never face a three-disc retread to replace my saved-over file. Shorter games have fallen victim to the same fate, though - a botched data transfer to the Wii U cost me my progress on Okami and Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and I'm unlikely to face either ever again.

Are there any games that, despite being enjoyable enough, you'll never finish because of lost time? Vent with us about memory cards and corrupted data, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 05 May 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/stiq-figures-this-game-is-great-and-no-one-knows-it-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/stiq-figures-this-game-is-great-and-no-one-knows-it-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/stiq-figures-this-game-is-great-and-no-one-knows-it-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

Some games achieve a certain clout near their release, a status that results in everyone just knowing about them. It was rare to have to introduce people to Mario Kart 64, Crash Bandicoot or Halo - word of mouth or advertising campaigns seemed to establish them as communal knowledge.

Popular games aren't the only good games, of course. Sometimes you end up as the lone fan of a game within your social circle, and it's up to you to convince anyone else it's worthy of being added to the group's game rotation. That was mostly my experience with Future Cop: LAPD, a third-person, cooperative action shooter that had players clearing out the dens of bizarre, crazed criminals in Los Angeles. Oh yeah, and you use a walking mech that can transform into a hover car to do it!

Controls can be a little stiff at times and clearing the campaign without some help certainly isn't easy, but there's plenty to love about Future Cop's arsenal and its style of exploration. There's a great competitive multiplayer mode called Precinct Assault too, where players capture bases and build armies to help them destroy their opponent's home base.

I did manage to make Future Cop fans out of a few friends, and we spent many afternoons waging war over precincts and dying off somewhere in the middle of the game's campaign. What about you? Are there any games you single-handedly convinced your friends to love? Share your favorite underdogs with us once you check this week's Japanese sales data after the break - after all, maybe we're the next one to be won over by your hidden favorite!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 28 Apr 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/21/stiq-figures-april-7-13-best-opening-numbers-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/21/stiq-figures-april-7-13-best-opening-numbers-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/21/stiq-figures-april-7-13-best-opening-numbers-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

If you're going to send me on a 30-plus hour adventure, you've gotta sell me on the time investment first. Creating an opening that compels players to press on is a challenge every development team faces, but it feels like one of those talents that often goes unpraised. Of course we expect to be drawn into our brand new games - after all, we paid the price of admission to be entertained! With the amount of mechanics and characters a game needs to introduce in its early hours though, it must be tough to decide what to start off with.

Commending Mass Effect 2for its introduction might feel a little odd, given that most of its audience got well-acquainted with Commander Shepard's arsenal in the first leg of his/her trilogy. Still, ME2 wastes no time drawing players back into its universe before shattering the sense of security many associated with the Normandy. The moment the flame-engulfed ship's second-story door opened to the deafening vacuum of space, I was 100 percent ready to hand my life over for the following weeks.

Final Fantasy 8had dense, on-the-nose tutorials for most of its combat, but its opening scene made up for it in my mind. As the camera zoomed above ocean waves and budding fields, cutting between a dramatic duel with bizarre swords and a girl with feathery wings, I was equal parts confused and enthralled. I had no idea what was happening, but if the answers were hidden somewhere in FF8's discs, I was resolved to find them.

Going from "meh" to "sold" is one of my favorite sort of gaming moments, and I think I get that most frequently from a team that nails their game's introductory moments. Tell me about the intros that instantly won you over in the comments below, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Japanese-Hardware-SalesJapaneseHardwareSalesstiq-figuresstiqfiguresMon, 21 Apr 2014 03:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/14/stiq-figures-march-31-april-6-do-we-want-more-remakes-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/14/stiq-figures-march-31-april-6-do-we-want-more-remakes-editio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/14/stiq-figures-march-31-april-6-do-we-want-more-remakes-editio/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

I mean, I can understand wanting a polished redo of games that run terribly on their original hardware or that are burdened with poorly-aged visuals. Beyond those exceptions though, it's tough for me to hope for remakes when there are so many interesting projects in the modern space. Watching Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus grow into the market is exciting to me, and I think the indie-developed standouts of today are much more exciting than potential high resolution re-releases of iconic games.

I'd rather hear your stance than go on about what interests me, though. Would you rather studios spend their time on new projects, or is there a game you've been dying to see someone take another swing at? Would you hope for changes beyond the obligatory visual boost, like revamped controls or extra content? Maybe your perspective sees an opportunity that I've totally missed. Share your general thoughts on remakes and the titles you'd most like to see redone in the comments, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!